You Little Beauty Co’s Lauren Skippen named Mackay’s best beauty therapist

The winner of Mackay’s best beauty therapist has been the escape for her clients through some of the best and worst moments of their lives — and has made sure they looked good doing it.

She has been front and centre through the days of Christina Aguilera-inspired thin eyebrows, to the bushy brows of Cara Delevingne, to the modern styling of lamination.

But underneath the ever-changing trends, Mackay’s best beauty therapist Lauren Skippen’s sole focus has always been about ensuring her clients “just feel good about themselves”.

Mackay's best beauty therapist Lauren Skippen from You Little Beauty Co. Picture: Contributed

Ms Skippen said this extended far beyond working her magic on their skin, nails and bodies.

“Everyone is so busy, so when they walk out and you’ve given them that moment of solitude and escapism, it feels good.”

The You Little Beauty Co sole operator has been in the industry since she was just 15, working after school hours as a “tea and tidy” worker.

Ms Skippen said she watched how clients transformed during their session, and knew she wanted to be a part of it.

“I loved the way therapists made clients feel good about themselves,” she said.

‘Everyone is so busy, so when they walk out and you’ve given them that moment of solitude and escapism, it feels good’. Picture: You Little Beauty Co

Some of the Mackay born and bred therapist’s clients have been with her for almost two decades and in turn, she has been with them for some of the biggest moments of their lives.

“I did a lot of wedding make-up when (my) kids were little,” Ms Skippen said.

“You remember the stress of the morning and then tears of happiness that come after.

“And then there’s the sad moments, when clients just want moments of quietness because they’ve just lost someone.

“It can be emotional. Because when you care you take it on yourself.”

‘A snore is the biggest compliment to a beauty therapist’. Picture: You Little Beauty Co

The mother-of-two prided herself on creating a sanctuary for clients, particularly women, to have a piece of peace.

She said she wanted to provide an escape for people “whether they’re going through a divorce, running their own business or getting cancer treatment”.

“A snore is the biggest compliment to a beauty therapist,” Ms Swippen said with a laugh.

The therapist said she strove to ensure her salon was the perfect escape, even down to the smell.

Mrs Skippen stocks almost only Australian made products, favouring natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin. Picture: You Little Beauty Co

But Ms Skippen does not stop there and is passionate about equipping her clients with knowledge they can take home.

She said she helped to educate her clients on how different diets affected their skin and could advise on internal supplements to help.

“I’m forever studying, and the body as a whole, nutrition is big on the skin,” Ms Skippen said.

Ms Skippen stocks almost exclusively Australian-made products, favouring natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin.

She said she was thrilled about taking out the Daily Mercury’s best beauty therapist competition for the second time — having won the competition for the first time in 2015.

“I didn’t think I had a chance. There are some amazing businesses in Mackay,” Ms Skippen said.

“The town is really lucky.”